Fed: Asia diplomatic machinery falling into disrepair: ALP

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2004
Fed: Asia diplomatic machinery falling into disrepair: ALP

Federal Labor says Australian diplomatic machinery across Asia has fallen into disrepair
because of the Howard government's indifference to the region.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman KEVIN RUDD says the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
forum is dying if not already dead.

Mr RUDD says Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD's refusal to engage with the region is to blame.

And he says, while Australia has been invited to leaders' talks at the Association
of South East Asian Nations to discuss a free trade deal, China and Japan are already
well advanced in their negotiations and Australia has largely missed the boat.

AAP RTV sw/sco

KEYWORD: ASEAN AUST LABOR (CANBERRA)

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